Breaking News: Punjab Schools to Follow New Winter Timings Till 15 April 2026

The Punjab School Education Department (SED) has officially released a new notification revising school hours for the upcoming winter season. The updated Punjab Winter Timings 2025–26 will be effective from Monday, 27 October 2025, to 15 April 2026 across all districts of the province.

This announcement applies to both public and private institutions, including single-shift and double-shift schools. The goal is to ensure that students and staff have a safe and comfortable learning environment during the chilly mornings of Punjab’s winter.

The Education Department issues such timing adjustments every year, considering weather changes, daylight duration, and travel safety for children.

Official Notification Details

According to the official circular issued by the School Education Department, the new timings are categorized as follows:

All government and private schools across Punjab are directed to strictly implement the above schedule starting 27 October 2025.

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Purpose Behind the New Timings

Every winter, Punjab experiences dense fog, low visibility, and extreme cold, especially in the central and southern districts.
The Punjab Education Department adjusts school timings to help students travel safely to school and to avoid early-morning cold exposure.

By delaying the opening time to 8:45 AM, the government ensures that students have enough daylight while commuting.
This decision is also part of Punjab’s broader Winter Management Plan 2025, which aims to balance educational continuity with safety.

Impact on Students and Teachers

The new timings will impact nearly 56,000 public schools and tens of thousands of private institutions in Punjab.
Teachers and staff are required to adjust their arrival times accordingly, maintaining full attendance and discipline.

For students, the slightly later start will provide comfort and reduce absenteeism during the fog season. Many parents have appreciated this step, calling it “a practical move that prioritizes student health over strict scheduling.”

Teachers’ associations have also welcomed the decision, saying it allows both shifts to run efficiently while maintaining academic progress.

Instructions to School Heads

The Punjab Education Department has directed all Head Teachers, Principals, and District Education Authorities (DEAs) to ensure:

• The new timings are displayed on school notice boards.
• Parents are informed via SMS, circulars, or class WhatsApp groups.
• Morning assemblies are kept short during foggy days.
• Heating arrangements (where available) are functional in classrooms.
• Outdoor activities like sports should be scheduled late in the morning.

Non-compliance will lead to administrative action from the relevant District Education Officer (DEO).

Timings for Double-Shift Schools Explained

Punjab has thousands of double-shift schools, particularly in major cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala.

Morning Shift

The morning shift will operate from 8:45 AM to 1:30 PM (Monday–Thursday) and 8:45 AM to 12:30 PM on Fridays.
This aligns with single-shift institutions, ensuring uniformity across all schools.

Afternoon Shift

The afternoon or second shift will begin at 1:00 PM and close at 4:00 PM on regular days.
On Fridays, due to shorter working hours, the shift will start at 2:00 PM and end at 4:00 PM.

This schedule allows sufficient time between shifts for cleaning, classroom handover, and administrative work.

Dress Code Relaxation During Winter

The Punjab Education Department has permitted relaxation in the student dress code during winter.
Students are allowed to wear warm jackets, sweaters, scarves, caps, or shawls, even if these differ in color from the school uniform.

This decision was made to ensure that no child misses school due to cold or lack of proper winter attire.
Teachers are also advised to remain flexible regarding footwear and head coverings during foggy and cold mornings.

Role of District Authorities

The implementation will be supervised by the District Education Authorities (DEAs) in coordination with school heads.
Random inspections will be conducted to confirm whether schools are adhering to the official timings.

Each DEA will submit a compliance report to the Punjab Education Department by mid-November.
Authorities have stressed that disciplinary action may be taken against schools violating the directive.

Weather-Related Contingencies

In case of severe fog or air quality deterioration, the Punjab government may issue temporary holiday notifications or adjust timings further.
District Commissioners have been empowered to announce short-term closures if weather conditions become unsafe for travel.

Parents are advised to stay updated via district administration Facebook pages, local TV channels, and the official SED website.

Parents’ and Public Reaction

Following the announcement, parents expressed relief that the government acted early before the cold wave begins.
Many called it a “well-planned move” compared to previous years, when the winter timing notifications were issued at the last minute.

Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook saw thousands of posts under the hashtag #PunjabSchoolTimings, appreciating the government’s proactive approach.

Teachers from rural areas also highlighted that delayed school openings help reduce accidents caused by fog-covered roads in the early morning.

Comparison with Last Year’s Schedule

Last year (Winter 2024–25), the timings were 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, while this year’s schedule begins 15 minutes later. This slight shift reflects the expected colder and foggier winter predicted by the Meteorological Department for 2025–26.

Experts believe that starting classes slightly later reduces absenteeism and morning fatigue among students, helping improve concentration in classrooms.

Duration and Next Review

The current schedule will remain in effect till 15 April 2026, after which the summer timings will be announced based on temperature trends.
If cold conditions persist beyond April, the government may extend the winter schedule by an additional week.

The Education Department will review the situation in March 2026 to make adjustments if necessary.

Winter Vacation Policy Reminder

Apart from revised school hours, the government will also observe annual winter vacations, typically starting around 24 December and lasting till 2 January.
Exact vacation dates will be confirmed through a separate notification in December 2025.

Schools will resume regular classes afterward under the same winter schedule.

Safety Advisory for Students

The Punjab School Education Department has issued a student safety advisory, urging parents to:

• Ensure children wear multiple warm layers.
• Provide face masks or scarves to protect against smog.
• Use reflective tape on school bags for visibility during foggy mornings.
• Encourage students to avoid playing outdoors early in the morning.

Teachers have been instructed to conduct shorter morning assemblies and to move classes indoors where possible.

Education Department’s Official Statement

A spokesperson for the Punjab School Education Department stated:

“These revised timings are designed to safeguard the health of our students and teachers while ensuring uninterrupted academic progress. We urge all institutions to follow the notification in letter and spirit.”

The department further emphasized that this schedule is mandatory for all public and private institutions, including schools under PEF, Allied Schools, Dar-e-Arqam, The Educators, and others.

Future Prospects

The government is working on a Smart School Management System that will automate timing notifications and integrate weather alerts for each district.
This digital reform is part of Punjab’s broader Education Modernization Plan 2025–30.

Officials believe such systems will help ensure timely communication with parents and real-time compliance tracking in schools.

Conclusion

The Punjab Schools Winter Timings Notification 2025–26 demonstrates the government’s commitment to student safety and educational continuity.
By implementing a uniform timing policy across the province, the Education Department has ensured that all institutions operate efficiently, even in challenging weather.

Parents, teachers, and students are advised to follow the updated schedule carefully and stay informed about further announcements through official SED and district channels.

This change, while small in daily routine, reflects Punjab’s growing focus on safe, inclusive, and adaptive education management — putting children’s well-being first.

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